Walk The Walk ~ (1 of 4) ~ Get Directions

SERIES OVERVIEWWALK THE WALKA Series About Following Jesus, Based on the Words of Micah 6:6-8Pastor Greg is spending the month of August unpacking the full meaning of God’s words to us in Micah 6:6-8.

With what shall I come to the Lord and bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, in ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:6-8

MESSAGE NOTES

With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ~ Micah 6:6-7

How can I know that I am living a life that truly honors God, a life the truly pleases God, a life that fulfills my God-designed purpose?

TWO POSITIVE ACTION STEPS FOR GETTING THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS

1) SET A S.M.A.R.T. GOAL

(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely)

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

ONE GREG AND ANNETTE S.M.A.R.T. GOAL

I will honor God with my body, which is a temple of the Holy Spirit, by reaching my goal weight within eighteen months, through proper hydration, nutrition, and exercise.

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in Him, and He in us: He’s given us life from His life, from His very own Spirit. ~ 1 John 4:13 (MESSAGE)

The unspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing and can’t be judged by unspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what He is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 (MESSAGE)

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to understand what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. ~ Micah 6:8

Your character is essentially the sum of your habits.

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.~ Ephesians 4:24

The Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take that first right step of faith in the right direction, the moment you do the next right thing. ~ Pastor G

GO DEEPER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS & PERSONAL STUDY

READ: Micah 6:6-7DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Do you think Micah really believes these are the things God is looking for from his followers? Is this really how he thinks one can win the favor of God? Or is he sarcastically saying these things to make a point? If so, what is his point?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg challenged us to as ourselves the question “How can I know that I am living a life that truly honors God, a life the truly pleases God, a life that fulfills my God-designed purpose?” On a scale of 1-10, how focused would you say you are on pursuing the answer to that question? Do you feel like you know that answer for yourself? If so, what is it? If not, how much progress have you made toward the answer? Do you have a partial answer?

READ: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg mentioned that this was the Scripture that convicted and inspired he and Annette to set their S.M.A.R.T. Goal. As you read and meditate on this Scripture, are there any lifestyle changes you feel compelled to make? Why or why not? If so, what are they?

2) In a non-believer asked you to explain how “the Spirit of God is in you” – how would you try to answer them?

3) Pastor Greg challenged us all to set at least one new S.M.A.R.T. Goal for ourselves. Have you had a chance to do that yet? If so, what is it? In what way is it Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely? Ask the group to help you fine-tune some of these areas if necessary.

READ: The Japanese Proverb Pastor G Shared AboveDISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Have you heard this before? Pastor Greg gave his interpretation of it but if you were explaining it’s meaning to someone else, how would you put it into your own words? Do you feel like you practice this in your own spiritual life? If so, can you share an example with the group?

3) What was your reaction to Pastor Greg’s story about the chapel service where the speaker was told by God to “Just do the next right thing.” Do you see the wisdom in that approach when feeling overwhelmed as well? Why or why not? Can you share a recent example where this kind of thinking has lowered your anxiety?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg spent a lot of time carefully explaining and defining his statement, “When we thoughtfully and prayerfully choose what we enthusiastically want to do, we cannot sin.”

With his explanations and definitions, do you agree? Why or why not?

2) When of these three key elements of “getting directions” (thoughtfully, prayerfully, enthusiastically) is easiest for you? Which is the hardest? Explain your answers.

READ: 1 John 4:13DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) John says we live in Jesus and also that Jesus lives in us. How are both possible? How would you explain this to an unbeliever? What was or is the process for Jesus giving us His own life through His spirit? How does that work? How do you know if it has happened to you?

READ: 1 Corinthians 2:14-16DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Paul is describing some of the differences between what he calls “the natural man” and “the spiritual man.” Based on what he says, do you think you are better classified as “natural” or “spiritual” right now? If you are “spiritual” (according to Paul’s definitions) how did you move from “natural” to “spiritual?” How would you advise a non-believer to make that shift?

2) What does Paul mean when he says “We have the mind of Christ?” Do you feel like you have the mind of Christ? Why or why not? How can someone know for sure that they have the mind of Christ?

1) Pastor Greg spent a lot of time on these three passages, describing how to know we are not conforming to the pattern of this world, how to instead know that we are delighting in the Lord, being transformed into the likeness of Jesus by putting on the “new self.”He mentioned things like jealousy, a critical spirit, anger,lust, greed, hatred, casting hurtful insults, complaining about a brother or sister in Christ, nitpicking someone else’s walk or heart or actions as examples that prove a person is not “delighting in the Lord” but is instead “conforming to the pattern of the world.” Are there any of these sins, or others like them, active in your own spiritual walk right now? If so, can you see how they will prevent you from delighting in the Lord and therefore prevent you from knowing and achieving the will of God and the true, pure desires of your heart? If you become convicted of any of these blockages to your walk what should your immediate response be?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg concluded by saying “Your character is essentially the sum of your habits.” and “The Holy Spirit releases his power the moment you take that first right step of faith in the right direction, the moment you do the next right thing.” Do you agree or disagree? Why? What is “the next right thing” you need to do today? How committed are you to doing it?